Zellweger gets Germany’s Golden Camera

Thesp is named best international actress

Berlin– Renee Zellweger received Germany’s Golden Camera award for best international actress on Saturday, joining fellow thesps John Travolta and Michael J. Fox at the glitzy ceremony in Berlin.

Presented by Germany’s leading TV magazine Hoerzu, the Golden Camera also honored late producer Bernd Eichinger with a posthumous lifetime achievement award. Eichinger died suddenly of a heart attack on Jan. 24.

One of the country’s highest-profile media events, the Golden Camera recognizes local and international stars, TV movies and news and entertainment formats.

Hoerzu said Zellweger, who rose to fame in such films as “Jerry Maguire” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” “has the talent to make her characters natural, authentic, and convincing.”

The magazine said even Zellweger’s recent film, “Case 39,” “a rather atypical genre” for the actress, “demonstrates the broad scope of her craft.”

Zellweger last appeared in Olivier Dahan’s road movie “My Own Love Song.”

The role for best German actor went to Ulrich Tukur for his roles in pubcaster ARD TV movies “Gier” (Greed), “Eichmanns Ende” (Eichmann’s

End) and the long-running TV crime series “Tatort” (Crime Scene), which was also chosen as the best crime drama.

Best German actress kudos went to Anna Loos, who starred in pubcaster ZDF’s family drama “Wohin mit Vater?” (What Should We Do With Father?).

ARD’s “Zivilcourage” (Civil Courage), about the impact of rising crime and ethnic tensions in a Berlin neighborhood, won for Best German TV movie.

Hoerzu also recognized German pop sensation and Eurovision Song Contest winner Lena Meyer-Landrut and Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti, who won Best International Music Artist.

In honoring Eichinger, Hoerzu praised the filmmaker for the more than 70 films he made in the past three decades, including Wolfgang Petersen’s “The Neverending Story,” Jean-Jacques Annaud’s “The Name of the Rose” and Oliver Hirschbiegel’s “Downfall.”

As previously reported, Travolta won best international actor, while Fox was honored with a lifetime achievement for his work in film as well as in raising awareness and funding for Parkinson’s research via the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Also honored were German thesp Armin Mueller-Stahl, who received the National Lifetime Achievement Award, and singer Gloria Gaynor, who picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award Music.

The 46th Golden Camera ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Axel Springer publishing group — Hoerzu’s parent company — and was broadcast live on pubcaster ZDF.